Neon Genesis Evangelion (Standard Edition) [Blu-ray]

Been waiting years for this to come to DVD/Blu Ray and not pay an arm on eBay however no where on the box did it mention it was the new dub. For those new to the series it’s a steal, for the whole series and the two original films in one small case with extras are a good jumping on point however the newer dub is just another factory produced anime voice over that looses all the charm of the original. Netflix weren’t able to pay out for “Fly Me to the Moon” for the service and yet again it goes missing.Never owned the original series and was about to sell my worn out DVD copies of the film but looks like I’m gonna keep a hold of them.

These are the words to described NEON GENESIS EVANGELION (1995-1997), one of the most talked-about anime titles over the past quarter of a century. What started off as a deeply personal story from it's creator Hideaki Anno (who is good friends with the legendary Hayao Miyazaki and has taken a shot at live-action cinema with his takes on his childhood icons Godzilla [2016], Ultraman [eta 2022] and Kamen Rider [eta 2023]) has now become a part of Japanese pop-culture.Set in a future where half of mankind has been wiped out, Shinji Ikari, a 14-year-old boy, is summoned by his estranged father, scientist Gendo Ikari, to pilot an Evangelion, a giant bio-engineered weapon built by the military organization NERV, to which Gendo is commander, to defeat the Angels, mysterious and bizarre-looking alien invaders intent on wiping out the rest of humanity.However, as British animation critic/historian Andrew Osmond rightfully points out, Anno sets out to do for mecha anime with EVANGELION what Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons did for comic-book superheroes with WATCHMEN (1986-1987). Shinji screaming to his father that it's not fair upon learning that he has to pilot an Evangelion is basically Anno saying, "But wait a minute: what if Shinji doesn't want to pilot the Evangelion, but ultimately has to and ponder the meaning of piloting it?", which is a theme that runs throughout the series.The other Evangelion child pilots are equally flawed: Rei Ayanami (one of my favourite characters in anime) is an emotionally-withdrawn girl who's origins are truly shocking, and even though Asuka Langely-Soryu is a fiery-tempered tsundere, you do understand by the end of the series why she is the way she acts (much like Nadia from Anno's previous work, NADIA: THE SECRET OF BLUE WATER [1990-1991]). Even the grown-up characters are just as screwed - despite being Shinji's guardian and overseeing the strategies of the battles, Misato Katsuragi has her own personal issues.It wasn't Anno’s fault. He didn't intentionally set out to make these characters the way they were. Let's not forget, he was going though a very difficult time when he was making the series, and even he was baffled by the surprised success. When asked, Anno replied "I don't understand why a lot of people love EVANGELION. The characters are so sick!" The only thing I can say to those who hate this is don't create something (regardless if it's a TV project, movie, novel, comic or computer game) while going through a long bout of clinical depression.And yet, the flawed characters are one of the aspect that makes EVANGELION special. It's trying to say to us that it's much, much more than just (sort-of) mecha battling rampaging Angels. I mean, how often do you get an anime TV series during the mid-1990's that uses archetypal imagery derived from religion and psychoanalytic account of human behaviour? I believe that it's the second half of the show that evolves EVANGELION from being a great show to truly something incredible.Of course, the show ended with two controversial episodes. Rumours suggest that the original ending was considered unsuitable for TV viewing, or that GAINAX (now a shadow of it's former self) had simply ran out of money & time. However, others believed that this how Anno had always intended to end the series that way, as it reflected him nearing the end of his depression. Unfortunately, the fans didn't get the message, and within days after the series finished it's initial run, GAINAX were besieged by hate mail & death threats (and I thought the STAR WARS fans were toxic).Although Anno seem to had shrugged it off, it was later revealed that he had a complete breakdown, because for two and a half years, he had been working endlessly, risked everything, put his full heart into NEON GENESIS EVANGELION, only to have left the fans and TV critics extremely disappointed. But thanks to support he received from his friends at GAINAX, and of course Miyazaki, Anno decided to give the fans an ending they wanted. 1997 saw the release of two EVANGELION films. DEATH & REBIRTH was a recap of the TV series, with several improve shots, scenes deleted from later episodes, and a preview of what is to come.But the real highlight of the two is THE END OF EVANGELION, one of the best animated films to come out of Japan. A 90-minute film, consists of two halves to replace the final two TV episodes, it has lost none of it's power to shock audiences as it had done twenty-five years ago. If the TV series was an reflection of Anno's dealing with his depression, then THE END OF EVANGELION was a dive into his worst nightmares. It's features beautiful and, often, horrific imagery, answering questions as well as creating new ones, and an ending that is true to the anime's roots. (as for THE REBUILD OF EVANGELION tetralogy [2007-2021], I will do a review of them, once the fourth & final film, THRICE UPON A TIME, comes out on Blu-Ray & DVD).NEON GENESIS EVANGELION is not a perfect anime, and it won't be for everyone, but the fact that it's creator had set out to make 'something, anything' and has left such an influential impact on not just Japan but the world is an incredible achievement. Something I can not disagree with.Hideaki Anno, I salute you.Reviewer: Ben David W

Bad quality 1/4 of the screen is missing.

This review reflects Amazon, not the product.I mistakenly ordered from the US. I contacted Amazon to ask if the product was region locked, and they 'assured' me the Blu Ray was good to go in the UK. Nope.Into my Blu Ray player a disc goes, only to be met with 'Region Locked'.I would have cancelled the order but for Amazon telling me it would work.Now, I have a 30 minute drive to return the item to a UPS drop off point and 'apologies' from Customer Service. Thanks Amazon.So to any UK buyers hoping to take advantage of free shipping and reduced price (the listing was in £ not $), this Blu Ray 100% DOES NOT work in the UK.With regards to condition, all discs included and minimal damage to the packaging. A good looking but ultimately useless product.

Would have been higher but it's the new dub which isn't the greatest. They even changed the dialogue for certain scenes

The product is brand new I just can't watch it.

Good anime